NEW DELHI: Airports Authority of India’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) of Rs 7.73 crore recently with Varanasi Municipal Corporation for solid waste management under Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of AAI.

The MoA was signed in the august presence of Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation.

On this occasion, a cheque of Rs. 3 crores was also presented to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for plantation on National Highway.

AAI as a responsible public sector undertaking is committed towards it socialresponsibilities and has taken several other initiatives to ensure change in field ofeducation, health, sanitation and welfare of underprivileged communities.

LBSI Varanasi Airport has provided financial support of Rs.5 crores to MunicipalCorporation Varanasi for acquiring 31 TATA ACE hopper tipper suitable to movearound city streets to collect garbage and its disposal. Prior to this, Rs.5 crores hasalready been sanctioned to NHAI for improving ambiance & undertaking landscapingwork on NH-56 Highway adjacent to the Varanasi Airport.

Construction of toilets for underprivileged children at Government schools, upgradation of four Primary Schools for basic amenities like class rooms, furniture,drinking water, smart class etc. and construction of community toilets in villages,shelter for poor people and solar lights in villages are other CSR works taken up byLBSI Airport, Varanasi.

During the brief inspection of the airport, Hon`ble Minister appreciated cleanliness inand around airport premises & steps taken by LBSI Airport, Varanasi to createawareness among local people through regular cleanliness drives to keep airportsurroundings clean.

Suresh Prabhu, HMCA applauded the efforts made by Airports Authority of Indiaand Varanasi Airport and desired that such steps should also be taken up at otherairports in near future.